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City Announces Where It Stands on Upcoming Ballot Measures

City will support veterans’ housing, clean water programs; oppose tax repeal initiative and repeal of Road Repair and Accountability Act

By EDDIE RIVERA, Community Editor

Published : Tuesday, October 2, 2018 | 5:41 AM

The City of Pasadena will officially support Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018; Proposition 2, The No Place Like Home Act of 2018; and Los Angeles County Ballot Measure “W,” which supports the Los Angeles Region’s Public Health and Safe, Clean Water Program, according to a presentation Monday by Assistant City Manager Julie Gutierrez.

The City will oppose Proposition 6, requiring voter approval for future gas and vehicle taxes, and the 2017 Tax Repeal Initiative, said Gutierrez.

The City’s Legislative Policy Committee reviewed all 11 California ballot measures and the Los Angeles County measure on September 25th, for the upcoming November election.

As the staff report noted, “For the November 6, 2018 election, Pasadena residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinion on a number of important bond measures, which may either bring additional funding for the City of Pasadena or eliminate much-needed street improvement dollars.”

“There are 11 State ballot measures this year and staff is recommending that the City take positions on three that have a direct or indirect impact on Pasadena,” the report continued.

Los Angeles County has also added Measure W, the Safe Clean Water Program, which would fund stormwater infrastructure projects in the L.A. County Flood Control District, the report noted.

Passage of Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, would authorize $4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund a number of housing-related programs and housing loans for veterans, including $1 .5 billion for the Multifamily Housing Program for low income residents; $1 billion for the Cal-Vet Farm and Home Loan Program; $300 million for infill infrastructure grant financing; $300 million for farmworker housing grant programs; $300 million for the Local Housing Trust Fund Matching Grant Program, $300 million for low income first-time home buyer assistance; $150 million for the Transit-Oriented Development Implementation Fund, and $150 million for home purchase assistance.

This measure is intended to help build affordable homes for veterans, working families, people with disabilities, and Californians experiencing homelessness, the report stated. ·

Proposition 2, also referred to as the No Place Like Home “Homeless Housing” Ratification, would ratify up to $2 billion in previously authorized bonds to build supportive housing under the “No Place Like Home” program for Californians living with a serious mental illness who are homeless or at great risk of becoming homeless, according to the report.

The measure is intended to leverage existing State funds to provide up to 20,000 permanent supportive housing units that combine housing with care that addresses mental health, substance abuse, medical and case management. Funding for the bond comes from 2004′s Prop. 63, the Mental Health Services Act.

The California League of Cities supports both Proposition 1 and Proposition 2, Guiterrez reported.

On July 17, 2018, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the Safe, Clean Water Program and funding measure, which would impose a special parcel tax of 2.5 cents per square foot of impermeable surface area on private property in the L.A. County Flood Control District (LACFCD), said the report. Impermeable surface areas are paved or built areas where rainfall cannot be absorbed into the ground and instead runs off as stormwater.

Measure W is·intended to provide funding for programs and projects to increase stormwater and urban runoff capture and reduce stormwater and urban runoff pollution in the District, said the staff report.

The goal is to ensure safe, clean water resources through the implementation of multi-benefit stormwater projects that provide two or more of the

following benefits: water supply, water quality, and community enhancement. Potential projects are green streets, low-impact-development (LID) developments, large wetlands, park infiltration galleries, and dam and reservoir retrofits.

If approved by voters, the measure would generate approximately $300 million per year, which is about $83 per year for the median home. The collected funds will be distributed by the County·as follows: 50% to watershed-based regional projects and programs and 40% to cities for projects/programs (Municipal Program). Pasadena’s share of local return is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million, said Gutierrez.

An additional 10% would go to LACFCD for projects and administration of the program. Credits for property owners who have installed stormwater-capture improvements are included, and qualifying low-income seniors and non-profit organizations would also be eligible for exemption .

Proceeds from Measure w will be utilized towards funding regional and local multi-benefit project solutions to City’s stormwater permit obligations.

The California League of Cities supports Measure W

The report also noted the City’s opposition to Proposition 6, which would repeal SB 1—The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017—which allocates revenues to cities and counties to fund basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety projects on local streets and roads.

Specifically, said Gutierrez, Proposition 6 would eliminate more than $5 billion annually in existing transportation funds and stops funding for more than 6,500 bridge and road safety, transportation and public transit improvement projects currently underway throughout California.

If voters approve Proposition 6, said the report, Pasadena will no longer receive SB 1 funding, which is estimated to be $2.38 million in Fiscal Year 2019, and annually thereafter.

SB 1 revenues provide critically-needed funding for the City of Pasadena for road maintenance and repairs, said the report. In Fiscal Year 2019, the SB 1 funds will be used toward:

The Resurfacing and Slurry Seal Project 1, which will resurface 5.8 miles of streets utilizing rubberized asphalt; and

The Annual Citywide Street and ADA Improvement Project, which will resurface 4.3 miles of streets utilizing two different paving methods: cold-in-place recycling paving, and rubberized asphalt.

A traffic signal at Garfield Avenue and Washington Boulevard.

The California League of Cities also opposes Proposition 6, said the City report.